The 36-year-old golfer has battled mental health difficulties and various injuries over the years, but while his comeback was on the right track last year, he began experiencing difficulties with his thumb and, after initially being “misdiagnosed”, he was recently told he suffered a complete ligament tear and a partial tear in two other tendons in his digit.

And the Englishman is frustrated at the time he has “wasted” while trying to recover.

He told Today’s Golfer magazine: “I had a really low period. I’ve got quite lost during these injuries with so much time off and not having answers for so long.

“I didn’t find other things to do so I almost wasted that time.”

However, Andrew is now trying to be positive.

He said: “But now I’m through the anger and I’ve got a positive mindset.

“I can’t hit balls or work on my game, but I’m doing a lot more stuff in the gym, more cardio, so I can get to a good weight and come back fitter and healthier.”

And once he can wield a club again, the golfer plans to make some changes to his technique.

He explained: “I look back and I made a slight grip change to chase getting better and I think perhaps that’s cost me the last three years.

“When I do come back, I’m going to have to look at going back to the old grip and the old ways.”